Evolution / Genetics / Biology

Archaeologists find gold ornaments at Sozopol

A massive gold ring and a gold leaf from a royal crown are the latest archaeological discoveries in the Bulgarian Black Sea town of Sozopol, site of the ancient town of Apollonia.

The site of archaeological excavations on Cape Skamniy in Sozopol [Credit: Novinite]

The discoveries have been made by Bulgarian archaeologists Dimitar Nedev and Tsonya Drajeva during excavations funded by the National History Museum. The precious finds were located in front of the ancient fortress gate of Sozopol.

The ring is has a semiprecious stone and most likely dates from the Roman era, the 1st – 4th century AC, according to the Director of the National History Museum, Bozhidar Dimitrov.

The gold crown leaf is from the 4th – 3rd century BC. This was the time when Sozopol was called Apollonia, and was an independent State, but its democratic form of government excludes the possibility that its rulers and leaders adorned themselves with gold crowns.

As is known in the Greek city-states produced gold crowns for the Thracian Kings with whom they had mutually beneficial political and economic contacts. Thus, this could be the most likely explanation for the find, according to experts.

Sozopol is one of Bulgaria's sites with the richest historical heritage and archaeological treasures. It was selected the top miracle of Bulgaria among a list of 10 such sites. Recently, French archaeologists arrived there to work jointly with local counterparts on fresh discoveries.